Performance Evaluation of a Designed Simple Interlocking Tile Blocks Machine

Abstract

Interlocking tile blocks have been extensively used in several countries for providing pavement in areas where conventional types of construction are less durable due to operational and environmental constraints. In this paper, we carried out performance evaluation on a designed simple interlocking tile blocks machine. The machine was designed, constructed, and used to produce samples of interlocking tile blocks. The produced samples were tested for compression strength using non-destructive testing. Computer Aided Design and failure analysis were carried out on selected part of the machine using SOLIDWORK 2017 version. The results obtained show that an average compressive strength of 52.16MPa, average production time of 12.21sec, and average destructive force of 2083.429KN were achieved. Besides, the compressive strength increase and decrease with aging of the interlocking tile blocks with optimum and minimum values obtained in day 28 and day 2 respectively. The outcome of the Von-Mises failure criteria showed that the Von-Mises stress is less than the yielding stress, thus the design is safe.

Keywords: Interlocking tiles blocks, performance, compressive strength, simple machine, Von-Mises failure criteria